SPECT/CT, PET/CT and PET/MRI: oncologic and infectious applications and protocol considerations

• Published in: Pediatric radiology Vol. 53; no. 7; pp. 1443 - 1453
• Main Author: Voss, Stephan D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Cancer therapies; Child; Clinical medicine; Computed tomography; Contrast media; Humans; Imaging; Imaging techniques; Improving Protocols; Ionizing radiation; Localization; Lymphatic system; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Multimodal Imaging; Neuroradiology; Nuclear Medicine; Oncology; Optimization; Patients; Pediatrics; Photon emission; Positron emission; Positron emission tomography; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Positron-Emission Tomography - methods; Radiation; Radiology; Reduction; Single photon emission computed tomography; Thyroid cancer; Tomography; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon - methods; Tumors; Ultrasound; Infection; Computed tomography; Magnetic resonance imaging; Pediatric oncology; Hybrid imaging; Oncology; Single-photon emission computed tomography; Children; Positron emission tomography; Cancer
• ISSN: 1432-1998; 0301-0449; 1432-1998
• DOI: 10.1007/s00247-023-05597-7

Functional imaging is playing an increasingly important role in pediatric radiology. Hybrid imaging techniques utilizing PET/CT (positron emission tomography/computed tomography), PET/MRI (positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging), or SPECT/CT (single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography) are now available in nearly every clinical practice. There are an increasing number of indications for the use of functional imaging, including oncologic and infectious indications, and it is essential to select and design the hybrid imaging protocol in order to optimize both the functional and anatomic components of the examination. Optimizing the protocol includes strategies for dose reduction, judicious use of contrast media and diagnostic quality imaging as appropriate, and for the greatest reduction in exposure to ionizing radiation, utilizing PET/MRI, whenever available. This review will provide an overview of hybrid imaging protocol considerations with a focus on oncologic and infectious indications.